Multiple Mediation of Optimism and Self-Esteem in the Relationship between Irrational Beliefs and Subjective Well-Being

The existence of a significant relationship between irrational beliefs and various mood disorders has been proved by previous research within the literature on irrational beliefs. However, there are a limited number of studies on the relationship between irrational beliefs and positive variables of positive psychology and mental health. This study examines the mediation of optimism and self-esteem in the relationship between irrational beliefs, specifically demandingness beliefs, and subjective well-being in adolescents. The study group comprises 235 students, including 137 female (58.3%) and 98 male students (41.7%). They were between 14-19-year-old (M = 16.14, SD = 1.10). The Irrational Beliefs Scale for Adolescents, The Positive and Negative Affect Scale for Adolescents, The Life Orientation Test, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and The Personal Information Form were used to collect data. The data were analyzed through Pearson correlation analysis, mediation analysis with Ordinary Least Squares regression, and Bootstrap. The findings reveal that optimism and self-esteem mediate the relationship between demandingness beliefs and subjective well-being. Among the mediators, optimism has a stronger mediation effect on the variables than self-esteem. The findings are discussed, and suggestions are offered for further research and practitioners.